Dear Rising Eighth Grader,

8TH GRADE SUMMER READING & WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Standard
Dear Rising Eighth Grader,
May 21, 2015
We hope that you have a wonderful summer and come back ready to begin the eighth grade
rested and excited to start the last year of middle school. Eighth grade is a key year because the
habits you establish will go with you into high school. As preparation for next year, you need to
continue to read over the summer.
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT:

Read one narrative (tells a story) fiction OR nonfiction book relating to human
rights.

Write a ONE PAGE RESPONSE, doing ALL of the following:
1. Write your impressions and opinions of the novel.
2. Identify and discuss the main conflict in the novel.
3. Identify and discuss a theme of the novel.

Your response must be typed using the following format: double-spaced, 12 pt.
Times New Roman, and a heading at top left of page:
Your Name
Date
Summer Assignment

Title your response using the novel title and author.

Do not summarize. Mechanics,usage, and grammar are graded.

DUE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: August 24, 2015
How do I find a novel relating to human rights? Easy! The following topics all involve
human rights: war (any country, any time period), Civil Rights Movement, women’s rights,
protecting children, labor movements, immigration, gay rights, freedom of expression, slavery,
discrimination, bullying, abuse, genocide, struggles in third world countries, poverty, right to
education, etc. And MANY more! Think outside the box. For example, The Hunger Games, The
Upstairs Room, and Nothing But the Truth all relate to human rights.
You are encouraged to read books within 100 points higher or lower than your Lexile score. To
search for novels with human rights themes, try the public library. Librarians LOVE to help!
Also, try the advanced search at: www.arbookfind.com. To check the Lexile level of a novel, use
this web site: http://www.lexile.com/findabook/.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email. We look forward to our year together.
Mrs. Barbaza ([email protected])
Ms. Reeves ([email protected])